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After 65 Years 1929 Willys Knight Lives Again!

1929 Willys Knight

In 1949 this 1929 Willys Knight model 56 was parked in dry storage on a tobacco farm. It is claimed completely original and rust free. Even the window shades are intact! It’s like it just came out of a time machine. The father died in the early eighties, his son a year ago, and the grandson inherited the car. There is a little hole in the back seat and moth damage to the mohair seats. There is a split in the canvas roof. The electrical system is in perfect shape and all the gauges work. The owner has vacuumed inside, but he has not washed it. He has done all the usual chores to get it running again. It is licensed and registered. These old cars aren’t worth much money, so it seems unlikely anyone will be willing to pay the $18,000 asking price for this except maybe a serious collector. This old Willys could look amazing after a good detailing though. It’s near Chesapeake, Virginia and is listed on here on craigslist.

Comments

  1. Avatar Mark E

    But does the factory AC still work? Does it still have the original radio/cassette? These are important questions! ^_^

    No, seriously, I’m afraid David is right. Obscure orphan cars like these aren’t worth much, even in nice original shape like this one. I’d say loose the “1” in the price and you’d be closer. $7500-12,000 would be my broad guess. And if it was $5000-7500 you’d find me whining about it not being 1200 miles closer…

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    • Avatar The Walrus

      Why guess when there are price guides that tell you exactly what it’s worth?

      Like 0
  2. Avatar Jamie Staff

    That’s a shame, because this car has a lot of good times to offer someone. I have no idea what it’s really worth, but I know I’d rather have this than a rusty wreck of a 356…

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  3. Avatar Texas Tea

    I agree with Mark E in the price being to high. This car should be on the high end at around $8500.00. I do love to see these old survivors that haven’t been messed with other than getting them back to driving status. Nice car.

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  4. Avatar Dave

    It’s a shame that this car is destined to go back into storage because it was inherited by someone who doen’t know the value of the car and is thinking just because it’s an old car in decent shape he’s landed on a gold mine. If someone that knows cars were to approach him and say, “Dude your a little out to lunch with your asking price,this is what it’s really worth” he’d probably scoff and tell them to get lost !!! Though obscure, it is a neat car, I could see myself paying $7- 8k for it, but no more.

    Like 0
    • Avatar The Walrus

      Car is correctly valued according to Old Cars Price Guide. It’s between a 2 and a 3 which are values of $12,600 and $19,600. Looks like he knows exactly what he has.

      Like 0
  5. Avatar Chris A.

    This Willys Knight deserves a restoration as its engine represents a unique American automotive invention, the sleeve valve engine. If properly restored and running, this car with its engine would be a neat car to have. Sleeve valve engines in good repair have good low end torque and power for their size and are very quiet. However they tend to burn oil and must have good cylinder lubrication. A restored sleeve valve engine would be very reliable and work well with modern synthetic multi grade oils. Just to get this engine running would take serious skills. Finding parts would also be difficult. The asking price is reasonable at $7,000 as getting this back to running condition won’t be easy. As for the ability to get power out of a sleeve valve engine, see Napier-Sabre H-24 aircraft engine.

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  6. Avatar Gary

    I like it, but agree with others as a bit overpriced. In the old car price guide fall of 2013 it is listed as series 56 6 cyl, 45hp and a grade 6, $980 grade 5, $2,940 grade 4 $4,900 grade 3, $11,030 grade 2, $17,150 and a grade 1 @ $24,500 whoa!
    Appears current owner may have done some pricing research prior to listing, but we all know it is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Nice find!

    Like 0
    • Avatar The Walrus

      The June ’14 OCPG gave them a slight uptick…

      1929 Series 56, 6-cyl., 109.5″ wb, 45 hp
      (All Willys-Knight)

      Sed 1,120 3,360 5,600 12,600 19,600 28,000

      It seems to be priced right to me. If he’d take $16K for it, someone will get a decent value.

      Like 0
  7. Avatar Leon P

    How many were produced ? How many still exist ?

    Like 0
  8. Avatar JC

    Hi,
    Do you guys know what kind of camper or Bus we can see on the pictures on the right rear of the Willys ?
    Thanks (maybe it’s an evidence for you, but as an european, I don’t know this model)
    Jean-Christophe

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Billbob59

    My friend has a 27 that he inherited from his uncle. Everyone needs one.

    Like 0

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